Catching My Breath

Sitting here in this car, Lord, I had to pull off somewhere. I needed to get away from the frustrations, and the world choking me with petty quarrels. I needed so desperately to find a moment with You. I pulled as far away from traffic and people as possible. I have the car turned off, the windows downs, and my eyes closed. I take in a deep breath. My body appreciates it, but I’m still struggling to hear You. And somehow that breath doesn’t seem complete… or like it’s enough. So many thought running through my mind… including… “Well do I pray? Do I listen first? How long should I listen before I pray? Are You trying to talk to me? Want me to talk to You? Or just listen.”

I hear traffic. I hear birds. I hear the wind. They’re distracting noises. So I apologize for allowing my thoughts to wonder. Yet as I apologize You seem to say, “Be still. Listen.” I try to focus again. Here I go apologizing again for anything that comes to mind or that I hear. And You tell me with emphasis, “Be still! Stop worrying about how you should think or what you hear, or even what comes to mind. Be completely still. Listen! What ever you hear… listen to it. Whatever comes to mind, think on it. Just be still… listen.. and be.”

Suddenly I hear the birds sing. I hear the wind, as I feel it blowing through the car, being so tenderly playful with my hair, feeling so cool on my skin. And then the blog I did called Look Up, and the one called CHOOSE LIFE come to mind. I am reminded to look up. And so I do. **light gasp** Oh how marvelously wonderful You are! I see You… in Your beautiful sky! The firmament in which You have placed such gorgeous dark clouds. Any other day I might been weary of them. I have experienced the importance of reading bad clouds. You use these thoughts to remind me of what You’ve brought me through… of times when You were there. And how You looked after me.

Now You have me close my eyes so that I can see You… YOU! I see warm light. I feel You. I see You! How my heart smiles! I feel Your breath coming through the window… breathing Your Spirit over me… breathing in me new life. It flows over me so mercifully. I soak it up as long as I can. I have forgotten everything else. It reminds me John 20:19-22:

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

I feel such a calm. I can feel my body relax all over… completely relax. I am mindful of this because very time I go to a doctor’s appointment, or any of my therapists, I am told I can’t relax. Even when they help me to relax more than when I came in, they tell me my body cannot “completely relax“. They say my body is “holding onto the stress” in whatever area they are working with. They say they need to “retrain my brain” to communicate with that area. Electronic testing shows there is very poor communication… sometimes it’s my brain not sending the signal, and sometimes it’s the affected area not responding to the signal. So even just this moment with You is golden! You are telling me to, “Let go. Stop holding onto the stress… even the strings to it. Give everything to me… and breathe. Just be”.

Life calls and interrupts. I knew the moment would be brief. That was part of the stress. How to make 10 minutes be a meaningful moment to Be still and know that [You] are God. Psalm 46:10. You have reminded me that “I” don’t make it meaningful… You do! Just by being there! ❤ However, it’s time to take my son to work. On the way, he wants to play the radio and hears a favorite song. He turns it up and tells me to pay attention. When it’s over another song comes on. **GASP** You are so awesomely personal!! ❤ A song comes on singing our very personal conversation… “Just breathe… Just Breathe. And be… just be“..

Just to hear him say this… and actually pause… with a very well played music to draw you right in to a dramatic pause. I instantly take in a deep breath… a good one. And oh… the release is just as relaxed and complete. How can a song do this? With Your touch, of course! I YouTube it when I get home. The opening pace seems a little quick and annoys me at first, but as I read the words while I listen I realize it’s perfect. It’s describing and sounding like the frantic pace in my life… in my brain. Yet again, as soon as it sings the first line of that chorus, and I draw in that DEEP breath. As I breathe out I am no longer affected by the other quick part, sometimes I don’t even hear it because I have followed the words to Your chorus exactly where You said to go. And oh, was it wonderful.

CHORUS:
Breathe, just breatheCome and rest at my feetAnd be, just beChaos calls but all you really needIs to just breathe

I read the other lines, and each word is like confessing all those little things that vie for my time, and my peace of mind. Well, except the coffee. For me it would be tea or soda.

Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floorIt’s off to the races everybody out the doorI’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life

Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can

Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper handSo much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy lifeIt’s ready, set, go it’s another wild dayWhen the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel you say just

Third cup of joe just to get me through the dayWant to make the most of time but I feel it slip awayI wonder if there’s something more to this crazy lifeI’m busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to seeThat I only have time for me, me, meThere’s gotta be something more to this crazy lifeI’m hanging on tight to another wild dayWhen it starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you say just

So I sing these words (or really listen because it’s less stressful 😉 ), tapping along. I definitely feel like I’m falling behind all of the time, as though I’m going 90 miles an hour, I love how that 2nd stanza ends with “when the stress is on the rise in my heart (with that rising rapid beat in rhythm and sound) I feel you say just... And that therapeutic chorus comes. **SIGH** I am in complete peace with You!

It’s amazing how “I can be busy, busy, busy, and it’s no surprise to see that I only have time for me, me, me.” I mean we’re taught if we’re busy it gets our mind off of ourselves. But if my alone time is so busy that all I am focused on is “Am I?” “Do I? “How do I? “What do I?” That is just me, me, me. I need to be silent. Not just outside of my head. Because it is then that “when [my day] starts to fall apart in my heart I hear you just say… Just breathe…” I can come and rest at Your feet. I don’t care if chaos is calling. I only hear You. You are all I need! ❤

You finish with instructing me on WHY I need to breathe.

Is to take it in, fill your lungsThe peace of God that overcomesJust breathe (just breathe)let your weary spirit restLay down what’s good and find what’s bestJust breathe (just breathe)

After I sing for a bit, I come across a FB Inbox Message from my dear friend Sarah letting me know that our dear friend Keitha has will be leading an upcoming ladies bible study. Then I receive an e-mail from Keitha with all of the info. And what was the name of the bible study…. 🙂 BREATHE!!! ❤ I am so excited, and so thrilled to know you have plans for me! And with such precious friends! You had been speaking to me, encouraging me to be involved in an activity with the church ladies. You worked everything out according to Your well laid plans… according to Your Holy Will! ❤

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18 thoughts on “Catching My Breath”

The Lord God gave us the ability to lower our blood pressure and stop a panic attack by taking in just a few deep breaths, but we are so busy running around like headless chickens that we have forgetten how to breath properly. So slow down! most things can wait. Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God:” Great post Gail xx

Wonderfully written, and a very touching post – You’re not alone in your body holding on to tension and stress, and the reminder to let go, to breathe, that it will be okay is such a welcome one. Thank you for sharing this 🙂
Caz xx

Praise God Sister. Our Father,the Almighty God does things that can’t be denied. Right down to the last confirmation with the text about the subject of the Bible study “breathe” you wanted to hear, and He let you “hear” it in so many ways! Hallelujah! Always in my prayers Sister! God bless you :):)